A MAJOR VECTOR OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Every studies, especially the most recent ones(5), show a very high percentage,
from 70% to 100%(2) of stethoscopes are contaminated.
Most frequent bacteria are Coagulase Staphylococci (89 to 100 % (1) (2) ),
Staphylococus Aureus (up to 57 % (2) (3)), Acinetobacter Baumanii(5),
Corynebacterium spp(1) (2), Bacillus spp(1) (2), Aspergillus spp(2), Candida(2),
Gram positive(1) and Gram negative bacteria(2).
Skin contamination is also the second place of infection with 11% of cross contamination in hospital (6)

AN UNCONTROLLED RISK

After more than a day without disinfection, 69% of stethoscopes
are contaminated again(1). 4 to 5 minutes of contact with the skin
are enough to re-contaminate a stethoscope(2).
Studies(1) (2) (3) (4) show that most health care personnel carry out
disinfection less than one time a day.